Evans Cycles - London Bridge, London, UK
N 51° 30.371 W 000° 05.269
30U E 702095 N 5710138
One of a national chain of cycle shops.
Waymark Code: WMBVFB
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 06/23/2011
Views: 4
The first shop was originally known as F.W. Evans Cycles and was located on Kennington Road in south east London. Trading from this site for thirty years F.W Evans Cycles built up a strong reputation as a quality cycle shop and in particular building its own frames and bikes.
In 1925 the company was presented with a silver plaque by the Cyclists Touring Club (The CTC) for ‘The greatest improvement in cycle design, construction or equipment during the year 1925’. The award was given for design and low cost production of a rear wheel dropout.
The business was eventually purchased by Joseph Smith in the fifties. At the time the shop sold a range of cycles and toys, during the seventies Joseph Smith handed the business on to his son Gary Smith who turned the shop into a specialist cycle retailer. After more than 50 years of trading at Kennington Road the site came up for development so the shop was relocated to Waterloo at 77- 79 The Cut, where the shop still trades today and continues to be one of the most well known stores in London.
During the nineties, Gary worked with Mike Rice, the Croydon store franchise owner, to bring the other franchised stores under the control of F.W. Evans Cycles (UK) Ltd. During this time the Evans Cycles Mail Order catalogue was launched, enabling Evans Cycles to supply a wider range of products to a much larger audience. It required the need for a central distribution centre that was established in Leatherhead, Surrey. This also coincided with the growth of a new type of retailing and the Evans Cycles web site was established.
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